Nia DaCosta Reveals Her One Amendment to Alex Garland’s ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ Script — “More Infected”

Key Takeaways:

• DaCosta’s lone script tweak was to add “more infected.”
• The screenplay for “The Bone Temple” was written by Alex Garland.
• Jonathan Glazer persuaded DaCosta to direct the sequel.
• The film was produced back-to-back with Danny Boyle’s earlier 28-franchise entry.
• Boyle’s film hit theaters earlier this year, setting up DaCosta’s follow-up.

Setting the Stage
Director Nia DaCosta, best known for her bold genre instincts, stepped into the 28-franchise with “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.” Yet, as she tells it, she found little to change in Alex Garland’s screenplay—except one crucial detail. “I asked for more infected,” she admits, marking the sole amendment she made before cameras rolled.

A Script by Alex Garland
Garland, whose storytelling shaped the original viral-outbreak saga, drafted the new chapter long before DaCosta boarded the project. His script, largely intact, preserved the hallmarks of the franchise’s relentless pace and bleak realism. DaCosta’s minor but pointed addition aimed to heighten that visceral energy.

The Glazer Nudge
DaCosta credits her decision to join the sequel to filmmaker Jonathan Glazer. The director of “The Zone of Interest,” she says, “convinced” her that stepping into the 28-world was worth the plunge. His encouragement provided the final push, aligning two innovative voices at a pivotal moment in horror cinema.

Back-to-Back With Boyle
Timing was everything. Danny Boyle had just completed his own return to the series, releasing a companion film earlier this year. To capitalize on the renewed momentum, producers scheduled DaCosta’s sequel immediately afterward, shooting the two projects back-to-back. The strategy keeps the franchise’s pulse racing without a lengthy hiatus.

Why ‘More Infected’ Matters
By asking for “more infected,” DaCosta signaled a tonal escalation—an intention to saturate the narrative with the human-turned-hostile figures that define the series’ terror. The single note underscores how a director can stamp her vision on a nearly locked script, expanding scope without overhauling story.

Looking Ahead
“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” now follows directly in the footsteps of Boyle’s latest chapter, carrying forward a world forever altered by contagion. Whether DaCosta’s increased swarm of infected reshapes the franchise’s legacy remains to be seen, but her confidence—and Glazer’s early vote of support—suggest a sequel determined to keep audiences uneasy long after the credits roll.